Note: This story contains autopsy information that some readers may find too graphic.

Opposing sides in Scott Peterson’s preliminary hearing continued to wrangle late this morningover whether his son could have been delivered by Caesarian section before he died.

In gruesome testimony that left the defendant’s mother dabbing her eyes with a tissue, amedical examiner stuck to his opinion that the boy’s body became entangled in ocean debris.

Defense attorney Mark Geragos of Los Angeles expressed disbelief, noting that the tinybody of Conner Peterson was recovered with a thin stretch of plastic tapeknotted about the head and chest.

“The baby had to be swimming like this,” Geragos said, arms stroking the air as he stoodnext to the witness stand. “Wouldn’t you agree that is extremely unlikely?”

Forensic pathologist Brian Peterson, no relation to the defendant, said, “I agree that it isunlikely that baby would swim.”Also, there was no evidence of injury to the boy’sskin under the tape, the medical examiner testified.

Scott Peterson faces the death penalty if convicted of double murder. He stayed out of thecourtroom this morning, and so did members of his late wife’s family. His own familymembers cringed as the medical examiner inadvertently and brieflyexposed to the audience portions of large autopsy photos.

Brian Peterson, a forensic pathologist on contract with Contra Costa County, acknowledgedthat a small rectangular length of unknown substance showed in a photo taken when Conner’sbody was found, but had been removed when another photo was taken in an examination room.

Geragos suggested that it was electrical tape - furthering the prospect of foul playaside from the prosecution theory pinning blame on Scott Peterson.

But the medical examiner said he thought it might have been kelp. He didn’t remove it anddidn’t know what he became of it, he said, adding that that would be up to apolice criminalist from Richmond. (Enquirer - Autopsy report)

Brian Peterson also acknowledged that Laci Peterson’s skeletal tissue showed traces ofcaffeine, but said he did not know how long that substance remains in a body after death.A source has told The Bee that a toxicology report on Conner Peterson showed no caffeine.

The medical examiner continued to assert that decomposition and tidal action likelyreleased the boy from his mother’s womb after she was submerged in San Francisco Bay.The two bodies washed ashore in mid-April.